“August 8th, 40 years of resistance.”
It seems incredible, but it’s been 40 years, 40 years, since the police assault on the MOVE house in West Philly, 40 years, 40 years since Rizzo’s cops fired hundreds of rounds into a home in Powelton Village, trying to kill MOVE members, 40 years since Delbert Africa was kicked, rifle-butted, and slammed with a helmet by cops who only went on to be acquitted despite videotape evidence.
40 years ago, a beautiful baby boy was born to Debbie Africa in a Philadelphia County Jail cell. For three precious days, mother and child shared each other’s company before jail guards discovered the birth and the two were separated. That boy is now a man: Mike Africa Jr., and several weeks ago, he drove his mother home, and mother and son were reunited. As he looked at his mother the next day, he realized that this was the first time he’d ever seen his mother’s feet in his 39 years of life.
For 40 years, from August 8th, 1978 to today, MOVE members have demonstrated protested, petitioned, and spoken out against the unjust imprisonment of MOVE members. These protests continue until all of them are free. MOVE, still on the MOVE after 40 years.
From imprisoned nation, this is Mumia Abu-Jamal.
These commentaries are recorded by Noelle Hanrahan of Prison Radio.